being a level below their hosts in Division 1 and the visitors having suffered a 40-6 thumping to Leigh less than a year ago, nobody really gave the Holmfirth side a chance.

No-one accounted for the tremendous team spirit, determination and resolve of Underbank, however, as they turned over all the odds to clinch a stunning victory.

Underbank finished the game the stronger due to a tortuous pre-season regime, their fitness telling with two tries in the final eight minutes to go into the draw for the second round on Tuesday.

Mitch Turner and Blake Hewitt were the try-scoring heroes, but all 17 who played can take tremendous credit for their effort in staying in the game when under great pressure from the Leigh attack in the game’s third quarter.

Three players were on debut, including the wily Darren Turner turning the clock back, Aussie Hewitt from Goulburn, NSW, and close-season recruit from Farnley Falcons Jon Campling.

Four others returned after missing the 2015 promotion campaign (Nathan Chappell, Neil Barrett, Rob Joyce and Austen Barrowclough) in a much-changed side to that which won promotion in late October.

Leigh started the stronger and opened a 10-point lead in the first 20 minutes of the game, with centre Lee Gittens and prop forward Daryl Kay scoring from close range after capitalising on Underbank penalties. Wing Ian Mort converted the first score.

However, Underbank then started to break open the Leigh defence on the right edge with Barrett Chappell and Allette making strong runs down the left flank, and it was no surprise that this was the avenue that brought the visitors their first score as Barrowclough scooted down the short side from dummy half, handed on to Chappell who, in turn, sent his wing partner Allette walking in for a deserved score.

Barrett couldn’t add the extras into a strong head wind, but the visitors trailed only 10-4 after half an hour.

Leigh quickly hit back with substitute Jordan Hill slipping over for a try, but the conversion was once again skewed wide of the uprights and Underbank went to the sheds losing 14-4 at the break.

The opening quarter of the second half was a rearguard action as Underbank struggled to break out of their own half.

However, fantastic defence from Underbank forced error after error from the home side and their reward was a Barrowclough try on 58 minutes.

Barrett converted and the game was suddenly on a knife edge as both sides battled each other as well as the difficult wind.

The breakthrough came on 72 minutes as Kris Harrop collected a loose kick from Leigh and he carried the ball 60m upfield.

From the play the ball, Richard Knight went to the line and prised open the smallest of gaps for the supporting Turner to crash through and score.

Barrett could not convert, but Underbank’s tails were up and they could smell the scent of a famous victory, and that became reality on 77 minutes as Harrop offloaded in his quarter to the supporting Chris Druett who raced 70m upfield and handed on to fellow Aussie Hewitt who crashed over.

Barrett converted to put Underbank six points clear, but they had to endure a nervy final few minutes before the final shrill of the whistle signalled great celebration as the side deservedly overcame the best non-professional team in the country for a momentous victory.